Design and Preparation of Synthetic Hydrogels Via Photopolymerisation for Biomedical Use as Wound Dressings

This research is concerned with the design and preparation of synthetic hydrogels for biomedical use as wound dressings. Crosslinked polymers of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) and its sodium salt (Na- AMPS) were prepared via free radical polymerization in aqueous solution using photoinitiation. An initial Na- AMPS monomer concentration of 40% w/v was used, then 1.0% by mole of monomer N,N’-methylene-bisacrylamide (NMBA) was added as a crosslinking agent together with 0.1% by mole of 4,4-azo-bis(4-cyanopentanoic acid) as photoinitiator. The results showed that the hydrated hydrogel sheets were good coherency, transparency, flexibility, high oxygen permeability and good skin adhesion. The water properties of the hydrogel sheets (absorption, retention, water vapour transmission rate) were balanced which can keep moist environment for the wound. In addition, it was shown that the UV radiation is a powerful tool for producing hydrogels, it is considered that these photopolymerised Na-AMPS-based hydrogels show considerable potential for biomedical use as wound dressings.